do you use gum paste or fondant ..can you use something else--- i never used either... i'm more a butter cream kind of gal so this is outside my comfort zone big time. is there a brand that's easy to work with for beginners

I use gum paste from Wiltons, sorry for the editing pc acting up.

Here are 3 techniques, all beautiful, I hope this helps

thank you... i am still debating if i want to try my hand at gum paste /fondant... very cautious when attempting new things for my cake skills.

Throw caution to the wind, how can you grow if you are keeping yourself back.

Cake decorating is not the cheapest skill  ,but it is so rewarding and www.craftsy.com

 have wonderful classes for all skill levels

You're welcome. I'm pretty new to it too. I bought some gum paste to make flowers for a wedding cake a while back. You can roll it out pretty thin but the flowers were so delicate and easy to break. I want to try some other methods to see if they are stronger. I found this thread with some good information.

http://cakecentral.com/t/745939/best-to-use-fondant-or-gumpaste-for-figure

Good Luck!

ADefinitely try branching out and practicing new things! The only time most of us will encourage not trying something new is for a paid order. I use straight gumpaste for mine, the one I have the best luck with, other than homemade, is the ck powder you add water to. I never get cracking, elephant skin or brittleness from it. Some people prefer a mix of fondant and gumpaste, you don't have to work as quickly. I just use an exacto to cut mine, but you can buy petal cutters that make starting out way easier. I'd do a YouTube search for 'gumpaste peony', and then watch a whole bunch! Seeing people do it always makes it easier to understand, and you'll get to see different techniques.

I also use straight gumpaste.  My first peony I ever made was with Wilton fondant - good place to start.  If you don't have cutter yet, consider the Collete Peters ones.  They come with very detailed instructions on making a peony.  These are not open peonies but a great place to start.  Peonies are not hard, just a heavy flower.

As you become more familiar with gumpaste, you will find it is a joy to work with and end up making your own like many of us.  If you take nothing else from this thread, it is to jump in with both feet and remember to have fun :)

when practicing with gumpaste/fondant- can you practice .roll it back up and re use it to get better at the technique or do you have to buy more each time.

ANo, ck is a brand that sells a powdered gum paste mix. gumpaste dries quickly, if you work fast, or are just practicing rolling it, you could probably ball it back up. you can't assemble a whole flower, then reuse it though.